150 lines
5.5 KiB
Markdown
150 lines
5.5 KiB
Markdown
# NEBULA BROWSER
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*A controller-first browser originally designed for SteamOS*
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---
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### ⚠️ Final Release • Project Archived ⚠️
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Nebula Browser has reached end of support and is no longer under active development.
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This repository represents the final archived state of the project.
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---
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# Nebula
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Nebula is a customizable and privacy-focused web browser built with Electron. It was designed to be a lightweight, secure, and user-friendly browser with a strong emphasis on controller-first interaction, performance, and privacy.
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---
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## Project Status
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**Status:** Archived
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**Maintenance:** Ended
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**Future Updates:** None planned
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Nebula is no longer actively maintained. The source code remains available for reference, learning, and archival purposes.
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---
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## Why Nebula Was Archived
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Nebula was created with a very specific goal in mind: to be a **controller-first browser that lived inside the Steam ecosystem**, particularly for Steam Deck and SteamOS users who wanted a web experience without relying on desktop mode, keyboards, or external workarounds.
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During the Steam review process, Valve determined that Nebula does not fit within Steam’s allowed categories for non-game software. As a result, the application was permanently retired from Steam and cannot be distributed on the platform.
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While Nebula can function as a desktop browser, distributing it outside of Steam fundamentally changes the experience it was designed to provide. Requiring third-party installation methods or desktop mode defeats the core problem Nebula was built to solve.
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Rather than ship a compromised version that no longer aligns with its original purpose, the decision was made to formally conclude development and archive the project.
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This repository preserves Nebula in its final state as a complete exploration of controller-first browser design.
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---
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## Features
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* **Privacy Control:** Easily clear your browsing data (history, cookies, cache, local storage, and more).
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* **Tab Management:** Open new tabs, pop a tab out into a new window, and manage them efficiently.
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* **Bookmarks:** Save your favorite sites with automatic backup on save.
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* **History:** Keeps track of your browsing and search history with one-click clear.
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* **Downloads Manager:** Track downloads, pause/resume/cancel, and open or reveal completed files.
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* **Context Menu:** Native right‑click menu with Back/Forward/Reload, open/download links, image actions, and Inspect Element.
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* **Auth Compatibility:** Improved OAuth/SSO & WebAuthn support (popup windows enabled where needed).
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* **Performance Monitoring:** Built-in tools to monitor app performance and force GC when needed.
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* **GPU Acceleration Control:** Diagnostics and safe fallbacks to troubleshoot rendering issues.
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* **Themes & Customization:** Built-in themes and live editor to craft your own.
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* **Plugins:** Extend Nebula with custom or community plugins via a simple plugin API.
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* **Cross-Platform:** Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
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[**Learn more about Nebula's features.**](documentation/FEATURES.md)
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## Getting Started
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### Prerequisites
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* [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/) installed.
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### Installation
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1. Clone the repository:
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```sh
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git clone https://github.com/Bobbybear007/NebulaBrowser.git
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```
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2. Navigate to the project directory:
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```sh
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cd NebulaBrowser
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```
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3. Install dependencies:
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```sh
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npm install
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```
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### Running the Application
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To start the browser, run the following command:
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```sh
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npm start
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```
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## Building the Application
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To build the application for your platform, run:
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```sh
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npm run dist
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```
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This will create a distributable file in the `dist` directory.
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Tip (Windows): If you encounter GPU issues, try starting with `start-gpu-safe.bat` to launch in a safer rendering mode.
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## Project Structure
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An overview of the project's structure. For a more detailed explanation, please see the [Project Structure documentation](documentation/PROJECT_STRUCTURE.md).
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- `main.js`: The main entry point for the Electron application.
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- `renderer/`: Contains all the front-end files.
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- `preload.js`: Bridges the main and renderer processes.
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- `performance-monitor.js`: Module for monitoring performance.
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- `gpu-config.js` & `gpu-fallback.js`: Modules for managing GPU settings.
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- `assets/`: Contains static assets.
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- `documentation/`: Contains additional documentation.
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- `plugins/`: Sample plugins and scaffolding for developing your own.
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## Core Concepts
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Nebula is built on several core concepts that are essential to understanding how it works. For a deeper dive, read the [Core Concepts documentation](documentation/CORE_CONCEPTS.md).
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- **Main and Renderer Processes**
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- **Inter-Process Communication (IPC)**
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- **Performance and GPU Management**
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## Contributing
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Contributions are welcome! Please read our [contributing guidelines](documentation/CONTRIBUTING.md) to get started.
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## Technologies Used
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* [Electron](https://www.electronjs.org/)
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* HTML, CSS, JavaScript
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## License
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This project is licensed under the MIT License. [Read More](documentation/MIT.md)
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## Documentation
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* [MIT License](documentation/MIT.md)
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* [GPU Fix](documentation/GPU-FIX-README.md)
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* [Features](documentation/FEATURES.md)
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* [Customization](documentation/Customization.md)
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* [Project Structure](documentation/PROJECT_STRUCTURE.md)
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* [Core Concepts](documentation/CORE_CONCEPTS.md)
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* [Contributing Guide](documentation/CONTRIBUTING.md)
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* [OAuth Debug](documentation/oauth-debug.md)
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* [Plugins Guide](README-PLUGINS.md)
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